Why we step onto the yoga mat

If you’re anything like me, you probably walked into your very first yoga class expecting a good stretch, or maybe a way to quieten a racing mind.

I initially came to yoga looking for something to help ease my back tension. My back used to constantly grumble while I was working or spending hours gardening. And let’s be honest, the physical poses of yoga (asana) are absolutely fantastic for that. Today, my back never grumbles at all while gardening. I feel far more flexible, strong, and my mind is peaceful.

But if we only see yoga as a physical practice, we are missing out on the most beautiful, life-changing parts of the tradition.

Caring for my garden eventually showed me that yoga wasn't just changing my body, it was making me far more in tune with nature and the world around me. I used to think yoga was just about mastering an asana, like wheel or a headstand.

But I was lucky enough to learn from teachers who gently cracked that perspective open. They taught me that the physical practice is actually just a gateway, a bridge to quieten the mind and connect deeply with everything around us. 

My first teacher was Nina, who beautifully introduced me to the truth that yoga is so much more than just a physical practice. Later, one of my greatest teachers, Penelope, introduced me to yoga philosophy. Embracing those teachings has been one of the greatest gifts of my life.

They showed me that yoga isn't just something you perform for an hour on a mat; it’s a way of moving through the entire world. 

This blog post is a love letter to them, and to the ancient roots they passed down to me.

In my next blog post, I’d like to share with you these teachings, starting with the 8 limbs of yoga.

Until then.

Love, Francesca x